Where Are the Children? (1986) Movie Script
(MICHAEL CHATTERING)
(MISSY CHUCKLING)
MICHAEL: This one
can go up to the moon.
It can even go up to the sky.
MISSY: Well, I'm just
catching clams.
I just...
Look, there's one.
Over there. Over there. Huh?
Over there.
Yeah.
Look, this one will
go up to the moon.
Look, look, this one
will go up to the moon.
Try it.
(EXCLAIMING)
MICHAEL: And this is
a helicopter.
(MIMICKING EXPLOSION)
Well that's just far, too.
It's not up to the...
And this is even an airplane.
(MIMICKING AIRPLANE)
MISSY: An airplane can
go farther than that.
MICHAEL: And this is
a skimobile.
(MIMICKING SKIMOBILE)
Well, I think...
Maybe, but, go over there,
maybe there's some more.
Well, I'm finding
a bunch of them here.
Look at this one.
This one will be another far one.
(EXCLAIMING)
(MIMICKING EXPLOSION)
Look. Here's one.
Here's one. Look.
Uh-huh.
Look.
(MIMICKING JET PLANE)
Uh-huh.
That one was a jet airplane.
This will be a motorboat.
(MIMICKING MOTORBOAT)
That one is a
battle ship cruiser.
MISSY: Look at my...
Missy!
Michael! Lunch time.
What? Look at this.
Look at this.
Look what I have.
Look what we got.
What? Let me see.
Come here. Let me see.
Some clams.
Some clams?
Did you dig them yourself? Yeah.
Can we make clam chowder?
What a good idea.
We can make it this evening.
That's a great idea.
Can I have a bite of your apple?
Oh, yeah. Here.
Come on, let's go to
lunch, you're hungry.
Wait. Can we go on the
swing, just once? Please?
On the swing?
Before lunch?
After lunch.
Please? Just once?
Just once.
Okay, come on.
(KIDS CHATTERING)
Come on, I'll push you.
Can you get on?
Okay.
Can she go higher than that?
Please? Please?
Up, up in the branches high
BOTH: Down, down
in the castle...
(CLAY WHISTLES)
Peanut butter's getting cold.
And the chef's lonely.
Higher! Off the swing.
Get off the swing.
Come on, come on.
Lunch break.
Hey, Daddy.
Look, look!
Hey!
Look, this'll make clam chowder.
Oh, they smell great.
Hey!
(EXCLAIMS)
Hold it, hold it.
Who's hungry?
Me! I'm hungry!
Whoo! Whoo!
Daddy, here. Boo!
You know, we do
have a rematch coming.
This is it for Dad.
CLAY: Oh, yeah?
The old man's going to
bite the dust on this one.
CLAY: Oh, hey...
Hey, Daddy, give it to
me, give it to me.
MISSY: Get him, get him.
Tackle him, Mommy.
(LAUGHING) Hey!
(ALL LAUGHING)
(SEAGULLS CAWING)
(BARKING)
There we go!
(LAUGHING)
Good for you, Tiger.
RADIO ANNOUNCER:
Right about 7:00
and looking at the
weather for the Cape.
The weather bureau says
we might get that storm
a little sooner than
had been expected.
Rain should start
by mid-morning,
with temperatures
in the low 40s.
And if you haven't looked out your
window, you might check it out.
Beautiful leaves out there.
That's what I like
about this time of year.
The autumn leaves come
down in different colors.
And it seems like every time...
(SHUSHING)
BOTH: Happy birthday,
Mommy!
(EXCLAIMS)
Hey!
Hey.
All right.
What are you guys
doing up so early?
We set the alarm.
You did?
Happy birthday, Nance.
Open the present!
(BELL TOLLING)
Oh!
Oh, excuse me.
Hey, I'm sorry, pal.
Oh, yeah.
I didn't see you.
I'm sorry. Sorry.
Hey, that's a nice
looking bike there.
Your dad get it for you?
No way.
I got a job.
Oh, yeah? It's better that way, ain't it?
You appreciate it more.
Mmm-hmm.
Yeah.
Hey, don't I know you?
I know I've seen you
around here.
You... You play basketball?
Mmm-mmm.
What's your name?
Neil.
Neil. I gotta get going.
I got work to do.
Oh, yeah?
Hey listen, Neil. What?
You wanna make
yourself a dollar?
Sure.
(CLEARS THROAT)
I got something that
has to be delivered
between 10:00 and 12:00
this morning.
See the radio station there?
Yeah.
Yeah, you just drop this
in that box outside.
Mmm-hmm.
Between 10:00 and 12:00.
You don't even have to go inside.
Okay.
All right?
What do you say?
Five bucks.
Five bucks?
Hey, come on, Neil,
what are you...
You kidding?
What... What did you
say your name was?
Jesse James?
No.
You should wear a mask when
you throw these papers, Neil.
Work, work, work, work.
Here. Here.
Work, work...
There's $2.
Two bucks?
You know, you're gonna make
one hell of a good businessman.
Yeah, well I got more...
Here, take the envelope.
Yeah, but I got more...
You already forgot.
10:00 and 12:00, now.
Okay? Okay.
I got more money in my pocket
than you've offered me.
Yeah? Well,
get yourself a new basket.
NANCY: Would you
bring the coffee?
Yeah, sure.
It's a baby's stool.
MISSY: I like that stool, Mommy.
Please, let me use it.
Come on, come on,
let's see the other presents.
You've got your hair in your...
Here. See?
You know that Greek fellow
I've been talking to
about buying the Lookout,
turning it into a restaurant. Oh, yes.
Yeah, well, he's driving up from
New York today to look at it.
Well, I wouldn't eat at the Lookout.
It's too gloomy.
Come on, Nance.
Some people like
gloomy restaurants.
Hey, that's enough
sugar for you.
Mommy...
No, that's enough.
Here, put your napkin
in your lap.
Remember that Hungarian
place in Boston?
The goulash tasted
like galoshes.
CLAY: It's not a yo-yo,
Michael.
NANCY: Now...
MISSY: Mikey.
Does anybody here know how I can
get rid of some of this oatmeal?
Throw it out.
Missy. No.
You know there are
places in the world
where children don't even
have anything to eat?
Let them eat the oatmeal.
(MISSY CHUCKLING)
NANCY: That's a punch!
MICHAEL: Stop that.
Do you wanna see my masterpiece?
MICHAEL: Yeah!
Yeah!
Ta-da!
Wow!
You're gonna have a great
birthday this year, Nance.
GAS ATTENDANT: Hey,
see that Celtic game last night?
It was a great game.
Bird...
He was just awesome.
You know, a lot of people say I kind
of look like Larry Bird, you know?
Hey, it's $10.
(STARTS ENGINE)
(TIRES SCREECHING)
Hey, you're welcome!
(HORN HONKING)
(MEN CHATTERING)
You're goin'?
Yeah, I'll be there.
All right.
I'll see you later.
Okay.
Morning, Clay.
You think you guys can
hold this storm off today?
I doubt it.
(LAUGHS)
Morning, Clay. Hi, Jonathan.
How are you?
I'm fine, thank you.
How was Nancy this morning?
Beautiful.
I think she's gonna be okay.
I know she's gonna be okay.
Hi.
Hey.
Morning, Doctor.
Well, good morning.
How is Dorothy this morning?
I'm very well, thank you.
Why don't you come in?
I just made some hot coffee.
Oh, no thanks.
I'm quitting caffeine again.
I can fix you some de-caf.
No, thanks.
I'm going cold turkey this time.
Bye-bye.
Oh.
Oh, a tie!
Well, I don't want
Kragopoulos thinking
he's dealing with
a couple of dreamers.
So, let's pick up a cake
and go surprise Nancy.
We're late for school.
Hang on. I got to take
care of business first.
You're busted!
(EXHALES)
I fell in love long ago
With a sweet little girl
And that little girl was you
Missy! Come here.
Put 'em on first.
Not like that. Okay?
There's a storm coming up.
Understand me?
Poor Debbie.
Here she is.
Okay, go on now.
Come on, Mikey,
can't we go swing?
I got to rake for my allowance.
Please?
No, I wanna get my allowance.
Please.
I wanna get my allowance.
(KIDS ARGUING)
MICHAEL: I got
to rake the lawn.
I got to rake it.
Please, please, Mikey?
Please?
But... But I got
to rake the lawn.
I wanna rake for my allowance.
Higher, Michael, higher.
Yeah, I'm kind of getting tired.
(EXCLAIMING)
MISSY: Higher,
Michael, higher.
(CONTINUES EXCLAIMING)
Higher, higher, higher.
Higher, Michael, higher.
I'm getting tired.
Higher, higher.
Higher, higher.
Higher, Michael, higher.
Come on, higher.
(SCREAMING)
(THUNDER RUMBLING)
Michael?
Michael!
Missy!
I'm gonna get you.
I'm gonna get you.
Michael!
Michael!
Missy!
Debbie's freezing.
Missy?
Missy!
Michael!
Missy!
Missy!
Michael!
Missy!
(THUNDER RUMBLING)
Missy!
Michael. Missy.
Oh, God!
Missy! Michael!
(SCREAMING)
Missy! Michael!
Missy!
Michael! Missy!
Michael!
Maybe we can...
We can waddle to work tomorrow.
Missy!
Missy!
Michael!
Michael! Michael!
(SCREAMING)
CLAY: Nancy!
Michael!
Michael!
Missy!
Nancy!
Michael!
Dorothy!
Nancy! I'm coming!
Honey! Honey!
Nancy!
NANCY: Michael!
Nancy!
Nancy, what's wrong?
I'm looking for Mike.
Michael!
Nancy, Nancy, what is it?
Nancy, what is it?
(SOBBING)
Nancy, honey, come
here, come on here.
I'm here, I'm here.
I'm here, I'm here.
What is it?
(COUGHING)
Nancy, where are the kids?
(SOBBING)
Tell me! Honey,
tell me what!
They're gone!
What do you mean they're gone?
Gone!
Where are the children, Nancy?
Oh, my God.
Nancy, Nancy, listen!
Nancy, where are they?
Where are the children?
Nancy!
Where are the children?
NANCY: I don't...
PARRISH:
Let's go, peaches.
(CAR DOOR CLOSES)
We're home, kiddos.
(THUNDER RUMBLING)
Ed! I looked everywhere.
I checked all around here.
All the woods and everything.
I can't find 'em.
All right, come on in.
Dorothy.
Yes.
Mrs. Eldridge.
You all know Bernie Miles.
I'm gonna make my little speech.
The only thing you've got to
fear is your own imagination.
This happens two
or three times a month.
Kids usually show up
in time for supper.
Only thing is,
next time they decide
to wander off,
tell them to do it on a sunny day.
(LAUGHS)
Okay, better check the radio.
Got an All Points Bulletin out.
Got some boys
checking the woods.
Mrs. Eldridge, uh...
Mrs. Eldridge?
Mrs. Eldridge,
could you tell me,
do the kids have any,
like, secret hiding places?
They're... They're gone.
The lake.
Excuse me?
She's real upset, Ed.
She's just real upset.
Great day for ducks, huh?
(SITAR MUSIC PLAYING)
(DOOR OPENS)
Morning.
Morning, Mr. Jenks.
What's the good word?
Oh, not much.
Raining like hell.
You know, someone left an
unstamped envelope in your box.
That burns me up.
What's that, Mr. Jenks?
Unstamped mail in
an official mailbox.
You know, that's...
That's a Federal offense.
Excuse me, Mr. Jenks.
Just about to go on the air.
Just leave the mail right over
there, would you, please?
That was Silver Birds
Across The Golden Mountain,
featuring Bagwind British
on sitar,
Buzzy Gleckman on temple
bells and Mooth Perse on.
(LAUGHS)
That's Perth Moose on vibes,
on this rainy, gloomy morning.
That's why I don't get paid
the big bucks, Mr. Jenks.
(CLEARS THROAT)
The weatherman's calling for
high, gusting winds today
and 12 foot seas,
so find somebody you love,
stay inside,
curl up beside a nice hot fire
and listen to the smooth,
cool sounds of WOMR.
If you are out,
police ask that you be on the lookout
for two lost children. A boy,
six years old, and a five-year-old girl.
In the meantime,
let's listen to the smooth cool sounds
of Studs Franco
and his magic flute.
(FLUTE MUSIC PLAYING)
Have a nice day,
Mr. Jenks.
The last room down on the right.
Check out time
is 11:00.
(STARTS ENGINE)
(RINGING)
It's milk and cookie time
It's milk and cookie time
I like them all the time
(HUMMING)
Who wants milk and cookies?
Michael? Missy?
Wake-up.
Doesn't anyone want a cookie?
Peanut butter.
(SIGHS) Well...
I'm gonna have one.
(INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC PLAYING)
(SCATTING)
Whoa.
Wait a minute, whoa.
Thank you, Franco.
We'll be back in just two minutes,
after this message from
the Greenpeace Foundation.
(SIREN WAILING)
MAN ON TAPE:
This is not a test...
What do I do now?
(TUNING CHANNELS)
LENNY ON RADIO: From what I can
make out of these articles...
Nancy Eldridge is
really Nancy Holder,
who was accused of murdering
her two young children,
nine years ago,
on this very day.
Thanks, Dorothy.
Clay, the minute we have
something, we'll let you know.
In the meantime,
if the kids show up,
you smack their
little behinds for me.
And Mrs. Eldridge,
we'll check out the lake, just in case.
But really, I wouldn't worry.
Can I talk to you
for a minute, Chief?
Did you find them?
Excuse me.
No, ma'am.
ED: What is it?
Hello.
DISPATCHER: Dispatch.
Yeah, this is Coffin.
Patch me through to that
guy, Barron, at OMR.
Okay, Chief.
The radio station? Yeah.
(ROCK MUSIC PLAYING)
(TELEPHONE BUZZING)
This is WOMR.
Hit or rap.
Go ahead, you're on the air.
ON PHONE: This is Chief
Coffin, Adamsport Police.
Is this Lenny Barron?
Yes, sir. Yes, sir.
This is Lenny Barron.
Go ahead,
you're on the air, sir.
You got some information
on Nancy Eldridge?
Yes, right. Yes, sir.
It just came a little while ago.
It's some old
newspaper clippings
and, well, three photographs.
Well, I don't want you
giving it out.
You hear me?
Uh, listen, man,
I'm sorry, Chief...
I... I just gave it out to
Channel 8 News a little while ago.
Listen, you button your
lip till I talk to you!
And don't let that
stuff out of your sight!
No, sir. No, sir.
It's right here in front of me, sir.
Yes, sir.
Everything will be taken care of.
Oh.
ON TV: Good afternoon.
I'm Natalie Wright
with the Channel 8 Special
Report on a late breaking story.
Early this morning,
Adamsport Police
reported the disappearance
of two small children,
Michael and Missy Eldrigde.
Police are now on the scene
at the Eldridge property,
questioning the mother,
who has been revealed
as accused murderess,
Nancy Holder.
Charles Slater reports live.
In this rapidly
developing story,
there is still no news on the
missing Eldridge children.
As the U.S. Coast Guard
and the state and local
police battle the storm,
in order to intensify their
search for the missing children,
a radio station,
the Adamsport Public Radio Station,
has revealed what may
be another tragedy.
The woman known here
as Mrs. Clay Eldridge
thought America had
forgotten Nancy Holder.
But today, no one can forget.
It was nine years ago
on this exact date
that Peter and Lisa Holder
disappeared.
Two weeks later,
their bodies washed ashore
on a beach near
San Francisco Bay,
still covered by the plastic
bags that suffocated them.
In a controversial,
often turbulent trial,
their mother, Nancy Holder,
was convicted of
murdering both children.
One week after the trail ended,
her husband,
Professor Carl Holder,
inconsolable at the loss of his
children, took his own life.
Key prosecution witness,
Robin Lakeler,
an instructor in Professor
Holder's biology department,
fled to Canada.
Nancy Holder's conviction was
overturned on a technicality.
The prosecution,
without either Holder,
who had killed himself,
or Lakeler who had fled, had no case.
(CROWD YELLING)
Nancy Holder left California
for Cape Cod, as we now know.
She was never retried.
This is Charles Slater,
Adamsport, Massachusetts.
(THUNDER RUMBLING)
Good afternoon, kiddos.
Did everyone have a good snooze?
I've saved you some
cookies and a glass...
Uh-oh. Who didn't
drink their milk?
(ALARM BEEPING)
Hmm?
Michael, do you know
what time it is?
It's 12:30.
You know how
to tell time? Hmm?
Uh-uh.
Who are you?
I'm a friend of your mommy.
We're just playing a little
game on Mommy for her birthday.
Did you know that
today's Mommy's birthday?
Hey, Mikey, look at this.
You ever see one of these?
(LAUGHS) Neat, huh?
Want an apple?
Real juicy.
Juicy-Lucy.
(EXCLAIMING)
I don't want any apple. Huh?
I don't want any milk.
I want to go home.
All right.
Not just yet, though.
Mikey, you ever see
a real telescope?
Come on.
I'll show you my telescope.
Come on.
Mommy, Mommy...
Who is he, Michael?
It's all right, Missy.
We won't be gone long.
Will we? Come on.
Mister...
Huh?
Mister, please take us home.
All right.
But first, right now,
let's go look at the telescope, huh?
Come on.
Missy'll be all right.
Won't you, honey?
Well, come on,
leave your sister alone.
MISSY: Michael. Don't go.
She'll be all right.
Missy'll be okay.
Won't you, darling?
We'll be right back,
honey. Come on.
Let's you and me go
check out the telescope.
What do you say?
Mommy! Mommy!
Michael!
Mommy! Mommy!
Michael!
Come on.
It's all right.
Come on!
There you go!
There you go, little man.
Wait a minute.
That's it, look through there.
Let me get the lens cap off.
What do you see, pal?
No, don't be a dork.
Squeeze the other eye shut.
That's it.
Now what do you see?
I see my house.
That's right.
You see, Michael,
I've watched you
for a long time.
I know where you play
and when you play.
What are you looking
at now? Huh?
MICHAEL: All the cars.
Cars? That's right.
Something's wrong.
Well, Michael,
you know what it means to be dead?
Huh?
It means...
It means to go to God.
That's very good.
You know,
you're a very astute fellow.
Well, you see, the reason all
those cars and policemen are there,
is because this morning your
mother went to visit God.
If... If Mommy went to
God, I wanna go, too.
Well, maybe you will.
Well, will she come back?
Maybe.
Your daddy told me
to mind you for a while.
He told me to ask
you to be a good boy,
and for you to help
me look after Missy.
That's what he said.
That's what he said.
Mommy went to God.
So, if she doesn't come
back, I wanna go, too.
You will.
Tonight. I promise.
I got the tickets.
(HELICOPTER HOVERING)
Those kids would not
have gone near the water.
Something's wrong.
No. I know that.
But it's not Nancy.
Ed, I've known about her past
since before we got married.
OFFICER: Come on, get off there now.
Move it.
(JOURNALISTS CLAMORING) No pictures taken.
Get going, get going.
(SIGHS)
I wanna take your wife down to the
station, for her own protection.
Is that all?
We've got a lynch
mentality here.
Yeah.
God, you take her down to the
station, it's gonna destroy her.
I'm not gonna book her.
(THUD)
OFFICER: Beat it! Beat it!
Ed, come on now, I don't know
what's going on around
here any more than you do.
But I can't stand around and
let Nancy take the blame for it.
Now, you got to treat her like any
other woman whose kids are missing.
Clay, your wife is not
like any other woman.
Mrs. Eldridge,
I'm curious about something.
You told me earlier,
the last time you saw the children
they were playing in the yard.
Why did you go to the lake?
For God sakes, Ed,
she had two children drown.
Please stay out
of this, Dorothy.
I understand you were
upset this morning.
Yes.
It's my birthday today.
It's the day my first...
My first two children died.
You had a nervous breakdown
in prison, didn't you?
After my husband committed suicide.
Yes, I did.
Come on, honey, let's go.
She did say that
they were in the lake.
Yeah.
She was the last one
to see them.
Mrs. Eldridge, I think it's
going to be better for everybody
if we continue this
down at the station.
I didn't hurt the children.
(CROWD CLAMORING)
(THUNDER RUMBLING)
WOMAN: You monster!
(REPORTERS CLAMORING)
Watch... Watch 'em!
REPORTER 1: Hey,
do you have a confession from her yet?
REPORTER 2: Is it true
Nancy Holder
was found on the lake this morning?
No! No!
(REPORTERS CLAMORING)
Mrs. Eldridge is
not under arrest.
No, sir, you can't go in there.
Please, I'm a friend
of the Eldridges. No.
Go. Sorry.
You were in the house with
Nancy Holder just now, right?
Is it true she
admitted she finally...
No. No, mind your
own business.
REPORTER: Have you
located the children yet?
DOROTHY: Go on.
Do you have any leads?
DOROTHY: Go, move away.
REPORTER: Do you have any
idea where the children are?
(TELEVISION CHATTERING)
(RINGING)
Mary had a little lamb
The lamb was white as snow
Everywhere that Mary went
The lamb was sure to go
Come on, sing along, Missy.
You can sing.
Sing, Mikey.
It's the wrong tune.
Mary had a...
What? Don't tell me
it's the wrong tune.
Sing, young man.
Mary had a little lamb...
(EXCLAIMS IN FRUSTRATION)
Mary had a little...
It's the wrong tune.
I... I say when
it's the wrong tune.
You don't tell me
it's the wrong tune.
Well, it is.
Well, maybe you better start
singing a different tune, pal.
You call me when you're
ready to sing, all right?
And no more jelly beans!
Sergeant. Sergeant,
I wanna see Chief Coffin.
Who are you?
Oh, Ed, Ed?
Please, Ed? May I?
Wait a minute, sir.
ED: Billy!
Let him through.
Thank you, thank you.
Who is that guy anyway?
Do you know him?
Yeah, they're friends of the Eldridges.
He's a retired shrink.
Ed...
Is she all right?
Ed, where's Nancy?
Dorothy, Jonathan, this is Mr. Quill
from the Governor's office.
Yes, she's fine. She's in the
conference room. We're questioning her.
Ed, no matter what
it looks like now,
Nancy had nothing
to do with this.
How do you know?
Well, Clay asked me
to see Nancy professionally when
she was pregnant with Missy.
No question in my mind, Ed.
She did not harm
those first two children.
You knew she was Nancy Holder?
Yes, I did, Ed.
Ed, those children in California
disappeared nine years ago today.
Nancy's birthday.
The exact same age that Missy
and Michael are right now.
Coincidence?
I don't think so.
You've been watching
too much television, Doc.
Ed, please...
Whoever killed those children in
California is still out there.
He's the kidnapper.
I think Nancy can
tell us who did it.
Why didn't she tell us?
Because it's...
It's locked in her mind somewhere.
Please, let me work with her.
CLAY: Jon.
Clay, Clay!
Nancy.
(INDISTINCT)
NANCY: Jonathan.
We're here to
help you this time, Nancy.
It's not gonna be
like it was before.
Thank you.
Thank you.
(LAUGHING)
I fell in love long ago
With a sweet little girl
And that little girl
was you (SQUEAKING)
What do you say, Henrietta?
Wanna swim today?
(LAUGHING)
(THUNDER RUMBLING)
I wish we could get out of here.
I'm hungry.
I hate this place, Missy.
What does it say?
I can't read this writing.
(DOOR OPENS)
(DOOR CLOSES)
ED: How's it goin', Doc?
Do a lot better, Ed,
if Nancy were at home
instead of a room
with bars on the window.
My friend, I've got the press,
the mayor,
the governor on my ass.
David.
You want me to tell them
I let Nancy Holder go
because she didn't like
the bars on the windows?
Just don't tell 'em.
Your kids, too, Clay.
What's that supposed to mean?
I wouldn't want the
same thing happen to you
as happened
to her first husband.
But, Ed, look at
how you're thinking.
She told her boyfriend
and I quote,
"The children are going
to be smothered."
What do you think
she meant by that?
I was going to ask her
the same thing, Clay.
Then ask me.
Don't talk about me
like I'm... I'm not here.
I told Rob Legler that,
because I felt my marriage
was smothering me.
It was smothering my children.
I was unhappy with my marriage.
It wasn't good
and it wasn't right.
I stayed in it for the children.
Why didn't you say this
at the trial?
Because I just wanted it over.
Like I want it over
if anything's happened
to Michael or Missy.
I just keep going because...
Maybe they're...
They're still alive.
And maybe there's
something that we can do.
I've got to get out of here!
Nancy, please! Come on.
Hey, hey, come on.
Hey, Nancy, stop.
Leave her alone.
Just leave her alone.
CHIEF: All right.
Calm down, everyone.
(SOBBING)
It's okay, honey.
We just gotta be strong.
Ed?
We just picked up the
guy at the radio station.
I'll be right there.
Come on, kids.
Come on, come on, come on.
MISSY: I don't wanna!
Let me go!
PARRISH: Get back there, buster.
Missy and I wanna be alone.
MICHAEL: I don't wanna.
PARRISH: Stop screaming. Get back there.
Get back!
MISSY: Don't go, Mike. No.
PARRISH: Come here, honey.
Stay with me. Let her go.
Let's go.
No! I don't wanna go!
Come on.
I don't wanna go!
Take time for your bath.
Let her go, you bastard!
MISSY: I don't wanna!
What time did you get
to work this morning?
8:00.
And this wasn't there then?
No.
You examine the mailbox
any time before
the mailman arrived?
No.
So this could've been
there from 10:00, 9:00,
before the kidnapping.
Why the hell would anybody put it
in the box before the kidnapping?
Because someone wants
Nancy back on death row,
where he had her nine years ago.
Doc here wants to be a
detective when he grows up.
Listen, is this gonna take long?
I'm being interviewed by
Channel 8 in 15 minutes.
What do you say?
You can go now.
What about my envelope?
We'll hold on to it,
if you don't mind.
It was sent to me.
It's my envelope.
Right.
Hmm, interesting.
Ed, look at that.
Is that you, Nancy?
Yes.
When was it taken?
It looks like just after
I got out of prison,
when I was moving east.
I'm at a bus station.
Ah...
Stockton, Merced,
Fresno, Bakersfield.
Then it is Sacramento,
where I got on the bus.
Miss Eldridge,
do you have any idea
who could've been
taking pictures of you?
No.
CLAY: Sure like to know how that
picture got in the envelope.
I'm gonna take these
down to the lab.
I'll go with you.
I'm sorry to make you come
out on a day like this.
Oh, it's my job.
Well, there it is.
Oh...
The Lookout.
Shall we make a run for it?
(WIND HOWLING)
Oh, it's...
There's a tenant on the
third floor apartment,
but he's only got
a two month rental,
so there's no problem
with the lease.
I wonder how this place
looks like at night.
I'm sure I got the right keys.
Oh, I hate to ring.
Mr. Parrish asked me
not to disturb him.
Said he's writing a book about
plant life on the Cape...
Or something like that.
Oh!
He must've unlocked it.
Well, you can see for yourself,
this place is absolutely unique.
I mean, I think that this
place is really for you.
I'm not just saying it.
Can I see the upper floors?
I would like to see the view.
Oh, well, I hate to
disturb Mr. Parrish.
(SIGHING)
If I'm going to buy this place, Mrs.
Prentiss...
Well, all right.
The golf pro used
to stay here summers.
Turned the entire floor into a
self-contained apartment, with a kitchenette.
(DOOR SLAMS)
Oh, my!
Good heavens, you startled me.
(STUTTERING)
This is Mr. Kragopopoulos?
Kragopoulos.
Kragopoulos, from New York,
I told you about.
Oh, yes, yes.
Mr. Parrish.
Pleased to meet you.
I'm Courtney Parrish.
Would you mind terribly if
I showed him the apartment?
Well, I must confess,
at the moment,
it is a bit of an inconvenience.
I wonder if you might
possibly come back tomorrow?
I have driven six hours
to see this place
and I have to be back tonight.
Oh, I see.
Well...
It was part of our
understanding, Mr. Parrish.
Yes. Yes, of course.
Well, show the man around.
What a dreadful day to have to
observe this wonderful house.
You heard the terrible
business about the Eldridges?
Yes. Those poor children.
Have they been found yet?
A policeman came around
and talked to me about it.
Oh, it's so disturbing.
That's quite a shock about that Nancy
Holder, too, isn't it?
You mean Nancy Eldridge.
Yes. Well, whatever
she calls herself now.
Oh.
PARRISH:
That's the bedroom.
Wasn't this piano downstairs?
Yes. Yes, it was.
It gets a better tone up here.
Well, how in the world
did you get it up here?
Hmm. By the laws
of simple physics.
Oh, do you play,
Mr. Parrish?
Well, I try to.
Not very well, I'm afraid.
Do I hear water running?
Oh, sugar! I forgot.
Well...
(GROANING)
Oh, my!
We interrupted your bath.
I'm so sorry.
It's all right.
I don't exactly follow a rigid
schedule, you know.
(RUBBER DUCK SQUEAKING)
Shall we go on?
Oh.
PARRISH:
Watch your step.
This is the bedroom.
May I see the closet?
What? That closet?
You know I've been intending to ask Ms.
Prentiss about this closet.
I wanted to grow my night blooming
aspidistra in there this season.
But I thought you or that golf
fellow must've changed the lock.
I don't have a key for it.
Well, there are keys
for all these closets.
I wouldn't twist that knob,
if I were you.
It might come off and
we'll never get it open.
The closet in the other
bedroom is exactly the same,
if you'd like to see it.
Oh, no, no, no.
That's all right.
Does this door open?
No. Absolutely not.
Don't go out there.
It's not safe.
Please...
The wood's all rotted.
Nice telescope.
I enjoy studying the stars.
Is there any place else
where the wood is rotted?
The widow's walk,
up here on the roof.
It's all rotted
through up there.
If you'd like to have a look
and maybe get yourself killed,
please, be my guest.
Oh, no, no, no, no.
It's all right.
...buying it.
(CLASSICAL MUSIC PLAYING)
Strange man.
If Mr. Parrish is right
about the rot,
I will definitely bring it up
with the owner when we talk price.
You know, I'm really sorry
that you have to go back.
You really should see
this place on a nice day.
Well, to be honest,
Mrs. Prentiss,
I'm not too sure this
place is really for me.
Oh, well.
Go ahead. Go ahead.
Oh, those damn leaves.
I'll be right back.
Let me have the umbrella.
There. That's better.
Oh!
Something wrong,
Mrs. Prentiss?
Oh, my God.
It's Missy's mitten.
She was wearing it yesterday
when I took she and
Michael shopping.
She must've dropped it
in the front seat
and I kicked it out just now.
Oh, my God.
Missy was always
losing her mittens.
(MUFFLED)
How are my babies?
Are you all right?
Told you I'd be back.
Why you...
(GASPS)
Poor little thing.
Oh, oh.
Wake up, honey.
MICHAEL: Shut up!
I'll deal with you
in a minute, young man.
Ah, Missy,
hold still.
Let me get your
sister ready now.
She's taking a bit of
a snooze, isn't she?
I said shut up!
A little on the nod.
Just a minute.
Oh, come on now.
It's bedtime, doll.
I'll be back for you, young man.
Poor little darling!
Oh, my sweetie.
Just a minute, Mikey,
we'll be back.
Why you...
You be a good boy, Michael.
Shut up!
I'll be right back.
That's not the kind of
language to talk to me, is it?
Nancy,
we've got some news.
We've got two separate reports
from people who have seen
Rob Legler on the Cape.
A gas station attendant
in Yarmouth,
and another from
a druggist in Hyannis.
Where is he?
I don't know. But we've got every
cop in the county looking for him.
Miles will drive you folks home
whenever you're ready.
Oh.
Anything wrong,
Mrs. Eldridge?
Oh.
That face. No...
In the reeds.
That face.
Oh.
CLAY: What face, honey?
No.
That was...
That was him.
I saw Rob.
I saw Rob at the lake.
(PHONE RINGING)
I'll call you later, Clay.
Why is he here?
NEWSCASTER: We interrupt
this early evening movie
for a Channel 8 news brief.
(RINGING)
Police are searching
for Robin Legler,
key suspect in the disappearance
of the Eldridge children.
Legler was spotted in the
Adamsport area this morning,
driving a red Volkswagen bug
with Canadian license plates.
Anyone seeing this man should
contact local police immediately.
Now back to our movie.
(ENGINE STARTING)
Well...
What shall we play now, pal?
I won't wanna play games.
Missy's sick.
I told you,
your sister is not sick.
She's only taking a snooze.
No, she's not!
I wanna go home.
All right.
You both will be leaving here very
soon, I assure you.
I don't wanna go later.
I wanna go now!
Put this coat on,
you're getting cold.
You don't wanna
get a cold, do you?
Come on, put this coat on.
Now, what do you say,
you and Uncle Courtney
play a little game?
You wanna play Snoop?
Snoop's a good game.
Or we can play Keep Up.
Or we could play Space Wizard.
How about a game of
Chinese checkers? Huh?
Bet I can beat you, Mikey.
Huh?
You shouldn't have
done that, mister.
That can get you
into big trouble.
I think you need
a glass of milk.
(THUNDER RUMBLING)
(LOUD CRACKLING)
Check!
Matches.
(LAUGHING)
Something happened.
Oh, something blew.
All right, don't you
play with matches.
Take care of your sister.
Uncle Courtney'll
be back in a minute.
We'll be right back, Missy.
Have a good sleep, darling.
(EXCLAIMING)
Oh!
Been a very bad boy, Mikey.
Bad boy.
Here.
What do you say, mister?
(EXCLAIMING)
Michael!
Michael!
Michael!
Missy drank her milk.
She's asleep.
You didn't drink yours.
Now you must be punished.
Shit.
(ENGINE RATTLING)
God damn son of a bitch!
God damn it!
(GREEK MUSIC
PLAYING ON STEREO)
(SPEAKING IN GREEK)
(REPLYING IN GREEK)
Mineral water, from Sparta.
Strong like bull.
Phew!
So, where you from, my friend?
Kalamata.
No. I mean here.
Oh. New York.
You have friends here?
I come to look at a property I
wanted for a nice restaurant.
Which property?
The Lookout.
You know it?
It's a cemetery.
That crazy guy still up there?
Do you know him?
He comes in here
the last couple of weeks.
He never leaves
the girl a tip. Right?
He's a cheapskate, a stiff.
He says he comes here to fish.
I ask him how the
blues are running.
He looks at me like
I'm talking Chinese.
He fishes and he
doesn't know blues?
Doesn't know blues!
Want some more coffee?
Hey. Where you going?
What's wrong?
I have fantastic baklava for dessert.
(WHISTLES) Kragopoulos.
Where you going? Wait.
You can come out now, Michael.
I'm not angry anymore.
Sorry I got angry, pal.
Come on out.
I know where you are.
I'll take you home
to your mommy.
(WHIMPER)
Mama.
Welcome home.
Power out?
Fifteen minutes ago.
Phone's been on and off all day.
Stay in touch on the radio?
Don't worry, Clay.
It's no problem.
All right.
Get a fire started.
Nancy.
Come on out, Mikey.
Uncle Courtney hurt his knee.
Missy needs your help.
(GROANS)
Uncle Courtney needs your help.
Might as well come out, Mikey.
You know I'll find you.
(WHIMPERS)
JONATHAN: Nancy?
What did you and Rob talk about?
Marriage.
Children.
What about your children, Nancy?
See, Rob told me
I could leave Carl.
I just... I didn't
think I could.
Why did you marry Carl?
Did you love him?
In the beginning, yes.
Did he make you happy?
NANCY: I didn't make him happy.
JONATHAN: Is that why you
wanted to leave him?
He... He said
that I...
I didn't know
what marriage is.
Now what did he mean by that?
What do you think Carl
meant by that, Nancy?
He wanted me to...
Dress a certain way,
do certain things...
Dress how?
JONATHAN:
Nancy? Nancy?
Nancy, how did Carl
want you to dress?
(SOBBING)
Like a child!
Like a little girl.
And what was he doing
that was so awful...
Please.
That you couldn't talk
about it in court?
I mean to defend yourself,
to save your life?
I just don't wanna
talk about it.
I'm afraid we have to
talk about it, Nancy.
Let's get to the
point, Jonathan.
Someone out there
has got our kids.
Now why are you taking
her through this for?
Please, Nancy, tell me.
Jonathan?
Tell me, Nancy,
why did you leave Carl?
Get to the point, Jonathan.
Answer me, Nancy.
Why did you leave Carl?
Leave me alone.
You left him because he was
molesting the children, wasn't he?
No.
No!
First, he dressed you
like a little girl,
and he treated you
like a little girl.
And then he did things to you
that you didn't like.
Then you had your children.
And then he had his own little
boy and his own little girl,
and he didn't need
you any longer.
Because you'd given
him the real thing.
That's right, isn't it, Nancy?
Isn't that right?
Lisa... So...
My little girl...
As a little girl...
(SIGHING)
(SIRENS WAILING)
What you doin'?
Anybody with him?
OFFICER: No.
Take him down to the station
and send his prints
out on the wire.
Yes, sir.
Jonathan, coffee?
No. No, thank you.
Oh, the hell with it.
Let me have a cup.
Thank you.
(KNOCKING ON DOOR)
Yeah?
Listen, I'm sorry to interrupt,
but I just thought you'd wanna know.
They traced Legler to a
motel up near Brewster.
He stole a car.
They just found it
out of gas near Barnstable.
We caught him.
Good.
Was he alone?
Yeah.
(HUMMING)
I fell in love long ago
With a sweet little girl
That little girl was you
Make sure the back
doors are locked
before you go back out to the
car, all right?
And put another log on the fire.
MILES: Right.
(SIGHING)
Yeah. Honey,
I'll call you
just as soon as
I talk to Legler.
All right. Good.
Be careful.
Keys.
Oh, here I have them.
Be careful.
ON TV: I lost my children
and now I've lost my wife!
NEWSCASTER: Though he
never doubted her guilt,
Professor Carl Holder appeared
crushed by the jury's verdict.
He looks real different.
Who does?
That guy on TV.
What are you talking about?
That guy on TV.
That's the guy who gave me two bucks
to deliver a package this morning.
NEWSCASTER: ...Holder's
boat was found a week later,
abandoned off Point Ridge.
The suicide note said
"Nancy, I still love you."
Hey, stup, the guy's dead!
Do you wanna go
home to your mother?
She didn't go to God.
She's all better.
She wants to see you.
Come on out and we
can play a new game.
We don't have to play
Chinese checkers.
Whatever you want.
Boo!
(THUD)
I know where you are, Mikey.
(WHIMPERING)
I'm running out of patience.
(RATTLING DOORKNOB)
I know where you are, Mikey.
I know where you are.
This time you won't get away.
I know.
Uncle Courtney knows.
Gotcha!
(EXCLAIMING)
You get off me!
Get off of me!
(EXCLAIMING)
MICHAEL: Hey, hey, you!
Who? Ooh.
Get off me!
KRAGOPOULOS: Run! Kid, run!
Get off me!
Leave us alone!
You shouldn't be here!
What you do with that boy, huh?
What you do with that boy?
Ah! Get back!
Come on!
I finish you!
Hey!
(GRUNTING)
Put down that shovel, you!
(GROANING)
Take that!
(PANTING)
(GROANING) Foreigners.
It's all right, Michael.
Now we can be alone.
Teach you to meddle.
(PHONE RINGS)
I'll get it.
Hello?
Mommy?
Hello?
Mommy!
Michael!
Mommy, you're alive.
Michael... Michael,
where are you?
I don't know.
Mommy, help us.
Missy's sick.
I will. I will, Michael.
I'll come right away.
Mommy, there's a man.
A man?
He tied me up.
Oh, God.
Put me in a closet.
Are you all right?
Where are you?
PARRISH: Michael?
Mommy!
What does it look like?
Is it far away?
PARRISH: You can
come out now, Michael.
Michael? Michael?
PARRISH: Don't you
wanna go home?
(DOOR SHUTS OVER PHONE)
Michael?
Can't take you home...
Michael?
Michael! Michael!
(LINE DISCONNECTS)
Oh, Jesus!
Operator, operator!
Mrs. Eldridge,
let me take it.
It was Michael!
Hello? Hello?
He said Missy was sick!
Oh, God! Operator?
I'll radio it in.
Michael.
It's dead.
(THUDDING)
(LOCKING DOOR)
I know you're down
here, Michael.
I know.
Where are you?
Come on out, Michael.
I won't hurt you.
I wouldn't hurt you
for the world.
(RUSTLING)
(LAUGHING)
(YELLS)
(LAUGHING)
Where are you?
(BANGING)
As my daddy used to say,
"What are you gonna
do now, buddy boy?"
(LAUGHING MANIACALLY)
(SQUEAKING) Please,
don't hurt me.
(ALL CHATTERING)
(REPORTERS CLAMORING)
REPORTER: Doctor! Doctor!
Excuse me, Doctor,
can I ask you just one question.
I'm sorry to bother you...
I want a lawyer.
I got a right to a lawyer.
You'll get a lawyer.
Sit down, kid.
Where are my kids?
I got no idea.
Son of a bitch,
where are my kids?
Clay!
Clay!
Now, I told you
I don't want this.
Please.
Listen, look, I've had it.
You guys are in
for one sweet lawsuit.
This is false arrest,
harassment and I wanna see a lawyer.
I told you you'd get a lawyer.
Yeah.
For God sakes, man,
where are my kids?
Why don't you go ask your wife?
You son of a bitch!
Clay, Clay, come on!
Be calm.
All right, all right.
Clay! Look, damn it!
Oh, God.
What'd she do to you?
What'd she do to make
you hate her like this?
Hate her? Man,
I don't hate your wife.
What do you think
I'm doing here?
I got this letter
from her a month ago.
"I want your help.
I need your help.
"Come to Adamsport.
Call me at this number when you get here.
"Come November 5th.
I'm leaving my husband."
Signed, Nan.
Nancy never typed
a letter in her life.
Well, I sure didn't type it.
I didn't write it!
Oh...
Look, I got this a month ago.
I got another one
a month before that.
Well, look at the postmark,
for Christ's sakes.
It says Adamsport on it.
Somebody could've
mailed it for you.
Oh, look at this guy.
I'm not setting
your wife up, man.
Somebody set me up.
I swear to you.
Why do you think I've been
in a motel room all day,
dialing a phone number
that nobody ever answers?
Because the God damn
letter says so, that's why!
You guys wouldn't...
You were the guy at the lake.
You ran into the water.
But who was that
other guy in the car?
What car?
This white station wagon
pulled away from the house.
CHIEF: What time was this?
I don't know.
It was, uh, 10:00.
Yeah. It pulled out and I
thought it was Nan's husband.
There were two sets
of tire tracks.
Sit down, kid.
You're not...
Let me have one of those.
NANCY: It's the waiting.
What if I kept Michael
and Missy in this morning?
(SIGHING)
Oh, no.
I was knitting
this pair smaller.
It just finally dawned on me
I wasn't saving any money
making them bigger
because Missy always lost them,
before she grew into them.
Do you know, when I put on
her mittens this morning,
you know those sweet
little red mittens
with those kittens
on them, I thought,
"Please, Missy..."
(SHUDDERING)
What?
I know where they are.
Oh, my God,
I know where the children are.
What do you mean?
Oh, my God!
Where did you get this?
At the Lookout, in the driveway.
When I found it, I thought Missy
must've dropped it in my car
when I took her
shopping yesterday.
Why didn't...
You should have told me!
Because I thought
it might upset you.
Oh, my God!
Nancy, its Parrish!
Who's Parrish?
He's renting the
apartment at the Lookout.
Oh, my God, the piano up there,
and the little bath
and the toy duck.
And that telescope pointing
right at your house.
Nancy?
I'm going to find them.
Wait here for Miles
and tell him where I am.
How do I get in?
There's a back door.
Please, be careful.
I'll try to get help.
(ALARM BEEPING)
Seven bells, kids.
(ELECTRICITY CRACKLING)
(GRUNTING)
Hurry.
What the hell is that?
Power line's down.
That's Nancy's car.
Come on.
CHIEF: We have the car.
Nancy!
OFFICER: Let's spread out.
Nancy!
Nancy!
She's not in the car.
She must've gone to the house.
OFFICER: Let's get on the horn
and call the power company. Hey!
OFFICER 2: I got it.
Turn 'em around!
We'll go in by Post Road.
Ed, what in the hell
are you doing?
We're going around back.
Well, I'm not.
Now come on, Clay!
Go, go!
You guys go in by boat.
The rest of you come with
me, we'll surround the place.
Hold still.
Put this on your head.
Oh, man.
(EXCLAIMING)
Hold still!
Mom!
Michael!
Oh, my God! Michael!
Michael! Michael!
Missy! Oh, God!
My babies!
Carl!
(MICHAEL SQUEALING)
You!
You!
(SHOUTING) Get outside,
I'll drown you!
MICHAEL: Mommy! Mommy!
Get off me!
(GRUNTING)
Baby, are you...
MICHAEL: Stop it!
Michael!
Get off my mommy!
(SHOUTING)
You killed them!
You made me do this!
You killed my babies!
(MUMBLING)
I didn't wanna do it!
You bastard!
You bastard!
(KIDS SCREAMING)
NANCY: No!
Mommy.
Help. Help.
(SCREAMING) Mommy!
Go, go, go.
Get help. Go
(SCREAMING) Mommy!
Mommy! Mommy!
Missy! Missy!
Leave us alone!
Leave us alone!
Missy! Missy!
Daddy!
Michael! Michael!
Oh, God, I've got you.
Daddy. Daddy.
Michael, are you all right?
Yes, yes.
(SCREAMING)
Carl!
Carl!
Stop! She's mine!
She's mine now! Stop!
Carl, give her to me.
Please, give me my daughter.
Give me back Peter and Lisa.
Give her to me.
Carl.
You thought you could take
my children away from me.
I couldn't let you do that ever!
(SOBBING)
Poor Peter and Lisa.
You don't have
to kill anybody, Carl.
You killed them.
You gave me no choice.
You gave me no choice.
Please, please.
Stop. Don't
come any closer.
Please, Carl.
Stop! Stay away!
I'm warning you.
No! Help!
Stop! Police!
Get down!
Make them stay away.
Back. Don't meddle with me.
Don't meddle with me.
I'll throw her!
I'll throw her!
(MISSY COUGHING)
Hush, Missy.
Give her to me.
Give me my baby.
It was you, Nancy.
It was you!
Get back now.
Stay back.
He's on the roof.
Henry, take this, go round back.
Come on, Doc.
You give me no choice.
Get back.
No more deceit, Nancy.
No more lies.
Only the truth of Mother Nature!
(MISSY WAILING)
(PANTING)
Let's show Mommy
how well you swim, honey.
NANCY: Oh, my God!
CLAY: Nan!
NANCY: Missy!
Give her to me!
(BOTH SHOUTING)
Nan!
(MISSY SCREAMING)
NANCY: Give her to me!
(ALL SCREAMING)
NANCY: Help us!
Help us please.
Nancy!
Oh!
I got her! I got her!
Come on. I got her!
I got her. I got her.
You!
(CRYING) Mommy!
(BRANCH SNAPPING)
(SCREAMING)
Mommy!
(SOBBING)
CLAY: It's over. It's over.
Mommy!
Michael.
Mommy!
My baby.
Watch your step, it's slippery.
There they are!
There they are.
Right there.
OFFICER: All right,
let's get 'em down.
It's okay, Son.
It's all right.
Stay right close to me.
Come on, honey.
Watch the ice.
All right.
All right.
Stay right close to me.
Stay close.
NANCY: You're okay.
You're okay.
Go on.
CLAY: Watch it.
Go a little bit more.
That's a boy.
NANCY: You're okay!
(MISSY CHUCKLING)
MICHAEL: This one
can go up to the moon.
It can even go up to the sky.
MISSY: Well, I'm just
catching clams.
I just...
Look, there's one.
Over there. Over there. Huh?
Over there.
Yeah.
Look, this one will
go up to the moon.
Look, look, this one
will go up to the moon.
Try it.
(EXCLAIMING)
MICHAEL: And this is
a helicopter.
(MIMICKING EXPLOSION)
Well that's just far, too.
It's not up to the...
And this is even an airplane.
(MIMICKING AIRPLANE)
MISSY: An airplane can
go farther than that.
MICHAEL: And this is
a skimobile.
(MIMICKING SKIMOBILE)
Well, I think...
Maybe, but, go over there,
maybe there's some more.
Well, I'm finding
a bunch of them here.
Look at this one.
This one will be another far one.
(EXCLAIMING)
(MIMICKING EXPLOSION)
Look. Here's one.
Here's one. Look.
Uh-huh.
Look.
(MIMICKING JET PLANE)
Uh-huh.
That one was a jet airplane.
This will be a motorboat.
(MIMICKING MOTORBOAT)
That one is a
battle ship cruiser.
MISSY: Look at my...
Missy!
Michael! Lunch time.
What? Look at this.
Look at this.
Look what I have.
Look what we got.
What? Let me see.
Come here. Let me see.
Some clams.
Some clams?
Did you dig them yourself? Yeah.
Can we make clam chowder?
What a good idea.
We can make it this evening.
That's a great idea.
Can I have a bite of your apple?
Oh, yeah. Here.
Come on, let's go to
lunch, you're hungry.
Wait. Can we go on the
swing, just once? Please?
On the swing?
Before lunch?
After lunch.
Please? Just once?
Just once.
Okay, come on.
(KIDS CHATTERING)
Come on, I'll push you.
Can you get on?
Okay.
Can she go higher than that?
Please? Please?
Up, up in the branches high
BOTH: Down, down
in the castle...
(CLAY WHISTLES)
Peanut butter's getting cold.
And the chef's lonely.
Higher! Off the swing.
Get off the swing.
Come on, come on.
Lunch break.
Hey, Daddy.
Look, look!
Hey!
Look, this'll make clam chowder.
Oh, they smell great.
Hey!
(EXCLAIMS)
Hold it, hold it.
Who's hungry?
Me! I'm hungry!
Whoo! Whoo!
Daddy, here. Boo!
You know, we do
have a rematch coming.
This is it for Dad.
CLAY: Oh, yeah?
The old man's going to
bite the dust on this one.
CLAY: Oh, hey...
Hey, Daddy, give it to
me, give it to me.
MISSY: Get him, get him.
Tackle him, Mommy.
(LAUGHING) Hey!
(ALL LAUGHING)
(SEAGULLS CAWING)
(BARKING)
There we go!
(LAUGHING)
Good for you, Tiger.
RADIO ANNOUNCER:
Right about 7:00
and looking at the
weather for the Cape.
The weather bureau says
we might get that storm
a little sooner than
had been expected.
Rain should start
by mid-morning,
with temperatures
in the low 40s.
And if you haven't looked out your
window, you might check it out.
Beautiful leaves out there.
That's what I like
about this time of year.
The autumn leaves come
down in different colors.
And it seems like every time...
(SHUSHING)
BOTH: Happy birthday,
Mommy!
(EXCLAIMS)
Hey!
Hey.
All right.
What are you guys
doing up so early?
We set the alarm.
You did?
Happy birthday, Nance.
Open the present!
(BELL TOLLING)
Oh!
Oh, excuse me.
Hey, I'm sorry, pal.
Oh, yeah.
I didn't see you.
I'm sorry. Sorry.
Hey, that's a nice
looking bike there.
Your dad get it for you?
No way.
I got a job.
Oh, yeah? It's better that way, ain't it?
You appreciate it more.
Mmm-hmm.
Yeah.
Hey, don't I know you?
I know I've seen you
around here.
You... You play basketball?
Mmm-mmm.
What's your name?
Neil.
Neil. I gotta get going.
I got work to do.
Oh, yeah?
Hey listen, Neil. What?
You wanna make
yourself a dollar?
Sure.
(CLEARS THROAT)
I got something that
has to be delivered
between 10:00 and 12:00
this morning.
See the radio station there?
Yeah.
Yeah, you just drop this
in that box outside.
Mmm-hmm.
Between 10:00 and 12:00.
You don't even have to go inside.
Okay.
All right?
What do you say?
Five bucks.
Five bucks?
Hey, come on, Neil,
what are you...
You kidding?
What... What did you
say your name was?
Jesse James?
No.
You should wear a mask when
you throw these papers, Neil.
Work, work, work, work.
Here. Here.
Work, work...
There's $2.
Two bucks?
You know, you're gonna make
one hell of a good businessman.
Yeah, well I got more...
Here, take the envelope.
Yeah, but I got more...
You already forgot.
10:00 and 12:00, now.
Okay? Okay.
I got more money in my pocket
than you've offered me.
Yeah? Well,
get yourself a new basket.
NANCY: Would you
bring the coffee?
Yeah, sure.
It's a baby's stool.
MISSY: I like that stool, Mommy.
Please, let me use it.
Come on, come on,
let's see the other presents.
You've got your hair in your...
Here. See?
You know that Greek fellow
I've been talking to
about buying the Lookout,
turning it into a restaurant. Oh, yes.
Yeah, well, he's driving up from
New York today to look at it.
Well, I wouldn't eat at the Lookout.
It's too gloomy.
Come on, Nance.
Some people like
gloomy restaurants.
Hey, that's enough
sugar for you.
Mommy...
No, that's enough.
Here, put your napkin
in your lap.
Remember that Hungarian
place in Boston?
The goulash tasted
like galoshes.
CLAY: It's not a yo-yo,
Michael.
NANCY: Now...
MISSY: Mikey.
Does anybody here know how I can
get rid of some of this oatmeal?
Throw it out.
Missy. No.
You know there are
places in the world
where children don't even
have anything to eat?
Let them eat the oatmeal.
(MISSY CHUCKLING)
NANCY: That's a punch!
MICHAEL: Stop that.
Do you wanna see my masterpiece?
MICHAEL: Yeah!
Yeah!
Ta-da!
Wow!
You're gonna have a great
birthday this year, Nance.
GAS ATTENDANT: Hey,
see that Celtic game last night?
It was a great game.
Bird...
He was just awesome.
You know, a lot of people say I kind
of look like Larry Bird, you know?
Hey, it's $10.
(STARTS ENGINE)
(TIRES SCREECHING)
Hey, you're welcome!
(HORN HONKING)
(MEN CHATTERING)
You're goin'?
Yeah, I'll be there.
All right.
I'll see you later.
Okay.
Morning, Clay.
You think you guys can
hold this storm off today?
I doubt it.
(LAUGHS)
Morning, Clay. Hi, Jonathan.
How are you?
I'm fine, thank you.
How was Nancy this morning?
Beautiful.
I think she's gonna be okay.
I know she's gonna be okay.
Hi.
Hey.
Morning, Doctor.
Well, good morning.
How is Dorothy this morning?
I'm very well, thank you.
Why don't you come in?
I just made some hot coffee.
Oh, no thanks.
I'm quitting caffeine again.
I can fix you some de-caf.
No, thanks.
I'm going cold turkey this time.
Bye-bye.
Oh.
Oh, a tie!
Well, I don't want
Kragopoulos thinking
he's dealing with
a couple of dreamers.
So, let's pick up a cake
and go surprise Nancy.
We're late for school.
Hang on. I got to take
care of business first.
You're busted!
(EXHALES)
I fell in love long ago
With a sweet little girl
And that little girl was you
Missy! Come here.
Put 'em on first.
Not like that. Okay?
There's a storm coming up.
Understand me?
Poor Debbie.
Here she is.
Okay, go on now.
Come on, Mikey,
can't we go swing?
I got to rake for my allowance.
Please?
No, I wanna get my allowance.
Please.
I wanna get my allowance.
(KIDS ARGUING)
MICHAEL: I got
to rake the lawn.
I got to rake it.
Please, please, Mikey?
Please?
But... But I got
to rake the lawn.
I wanna rake for my allowance.
Higher, Michael, higher.
Yeah, I'm kind of getting tired.
(EXCLAIMING)
MISSY: Higher,
Michael, higher.
(CONTINUES EXCLAIMING)
Higher, higher, higher.
Higher, Michael, higher.
I'm getting tired.
Higher, higher.
Higher, higher.
Higher, Michael, higher.
Come on, higher.
(SCREAMING)
(THUNDER RUMBLING)
Michael?
Michael!
Missy!
I'm gonna get you.
I'm gonna get you.
Michael!
Michael!
Missy!
Debbie's freezing.
Missy?
Missy!
Michael!
Missy!
Missy!
Michael!
Missy!
(THUNDER RUMBLING)
Missy!
Michael. Missy.
Oh, God!
Missy! Michael!
(SCREAMING)
Missy! Michael!
Missy!
Michael! Missy!
Michael!
Maybe we can...
We can waddle to work tomorrow.
Missy!
Missy!
Michael!
Michael! Michael!
(SCREAMING)
CLAY: Nancy!
Michael!
Michael!
Missy!
Nancy!
Michael!
Dorothy!
Nancy! I'm coming!
Honey! Honey!
Nancy!
NANCY: Michael!
Nancy!
Nancy, what's wrong?
I'm looking for Mike.
Michael!
Nancy, Nancy, what is it?
Nancy, what is it?
(SOBBING)
Nancy, honey, come
here, come on here.
I'm here, I'm here.
I'm here, I'm here.
What is it?
(COUGHING)
Nancy, where are the kids?
(SOBBING)
Tell me! Honey,
tell me what!
They're gone!
What do you mean they're gone?
Gone!
Where are the children, Nancy?
Oh, my God.
Nancy, Nancy, listen!
Nancy, where are they?
Where are the children?
Nancy!
Where are the children?
NANCY: I don't...
PARRISH:
Let's go, peaches.
(CAR DOOR CLOSES)
We're home, kiddos.
(THUNDER RUMBLING)
Ed! I looked everywhere.
I checked all around here.
All the woods and everything.
I can't find 'em.
All right, come on in.
Dorothy.
Yes.
Mrs. Eldridge.
You all know Bernie Miles.
I'm gonna make my little speech.
The only thing you've got to
fear is your own imagination.
This happens two
or three times a month.
Kids usually show up
in time for supper.
Only thing is,
next time they decide
to wander off,
tell them to do it on a sunny day.
(LAUGHS)
Okay, better check the radio.
Got an All Points Bulletin out.
Got some boys
checking the woods.
Mrs. Eldridge, uh...
Mrs. Eldridge?
Mrs. Eldridge,
could you tell me,
do the kids have any,
like, secret hiding places?
They're... They're gone.
The lake.
Excuse me?
She's real upset, Ed.
She's just real upset.
Great day for ducks, huh?
(SITAR MUSIC PLAYING)
(DOOR OPENS)
Morning.
Morning, Mr. Jenks.
What's the good word?
Oh, not much.
Raining like hell.
You know, someone left an
unstamped envelope in your box.
That burns me up.
What's that, Mr. Jenks?
Unstamped mail in
an official mailbox.
You know, that's...
That's a Federal offense.
Excuse me, Mr. Jenks.
Just about to go on the air.
Just leave the mail right over
there, would you, please?
That was Silver Birds
Across The Golden Mountain,
featuring Bagwind British
on sitar,
Buzzy Gleckman on temple
bells and Mooth Perse on.
(LAUGHS)
That's Perth Moose on vibes,
on this rainy, gloomy morning.
That's why I don't get paid
the big bucks, Mr. Jenks.
(CLEARS THROAT)
The weatherman's calling for
high, gusting winds today
and 12 foot seas,
so find somebody you love,
stay inside,
curl up beside a nice hot fire
and listen to the smooth,
cool sounds of WOMR.
If you are out,
police ask that you be on the lookout
for two lost children. A boy,
six years old, and a five-year-old girl.
In the meantime,
let's listen to the smooth cool sounds
of Studs Franco
and his magic flute.
(FLUTE MUSIC PLAYING)
Have a nice day,
Mr. Jenks.
The last room down on the right.
Check out time
is 11:00.
(STARTS ENGINE)
(RINGING)
It's milk and cookie time
It's milk and cookie time
I like them all the time
(HUMMING)
Who wants milk and cookies?
Michael? Missy?
Wake-up.
Doesn't anyone want a cookie?
Peanut butter.
(SIGHS) Well...
I'm gonna have one.
(INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC PLAYING)
(SCATTING)
Whoa.
Wait a minute, whoa.
Thank you, Franco.
We'll be back in just two minutes,
after this message from
the Greenpeace Foundation.
(SIREN WAILING)
MAN ON TAPE:
This is not a test...
What do I do now?
(TUNING CHANNELS)
LENNY ON RADIO: From what I can
make out of these articles...
Nancy Eldridge is
really Nancy Holder,
who was accused of murdering
her two young children,
nine years ago,
on this very day.
Thanks, Dorothy.
Clay, the minute we have
something, we'll let you know.
In the meantime,
if the kids show up,
you smack their
little behinds for me.
And Mrs. Eldridge,
we'll check out the lake, just in case.
But really, I wouldn't worry.
Can I talk to you
for a minute, Chief?
Did you find them?
Excuse me.
No, ma'am.
ED: What is it?
Hello.
DISPATCHER: Dispatch.
Yeah, this is Coffin.
Patch me through to that
guy, Barron, at OMR.
Okay, Chief.
The radio station? Yeah.
(ROCK MUSIC PLAYING)
(TELEPHONE BUZZING)
This is WOMR.
Hit or rap.
Go ahead, you're on the air.
ON PHONE: This is Chief
Coffin, Adamsport Police.
Is this Lenny Barron?
Yes, sir. Yes, sir.
This is Lenny Barron.
Go ahead,
you're on the air, sir.
You got some information
on Nancy Eldridge?
Yes, right. Yes, sir.
It just came a little while ago.
It's some old
newspaper clippings
and, well, three photographs.
Well, I don't want you
giving it out.
You hear me?
Uh, listen, man,
I'm sorry, Chief...
I... I just gave it out to
Channel 8 News a little while ago.
Listen, you button your
lip till I talk to you!
And don't let that
stuff out of your sight!
No, sir. No, sir.
It's right here in front of me, sir.
Yes, sir.
Everything will be taken care of.
Oh.
ON TV: Good afternoon.
I'm Natalie Wright
with the Channel 8 Special
Report on a late breaking story.
Early this morning,
Adamsport Police
reported the disappearance
of two small children,
Michael and Missy Eldrigde.
Police are now on the scene
at the Eldridge property,
questioning the mother,
who has been revealed
as accused murderess,
Nancy Holder.
Charles Slater reports live.
In this rapidly
developing story,
there is still no news on the
missing Eldridge children.
As the U.S. Coast Guard
and the state and local
police battle the storm,
in order to intensify their
search for the missing children,
a radio station,
the Adamsport Public Radio Station,
has revealed what may
be another tragedy.
The woman known here
as Mrs. Clay Eldridge
thought America had
forgotten Nancy Holder.
But today, no one can forget.
It was nine years ago
on this exact date
that Peter and Lisa Holder
disappeared.
Two weeks later,
their bodies washed ashore
on a beach near
San Francisco Bay,
still covered by the plastic
bags that suffocated them.
In a controversial,
often turbulent trial,
their mother, Nancy Holder,
was convicted of
murdering both children.
One week after the trail ended,
her husband,
Professor Carl Holder,
inconsolable at the loss of his
children, took his own life.
Key prosecution witness,
Robin Lakeler,
an instructor in Professor
Holder's biology department,
fled to Canada.
Nancy Holder's conviction was
overturned on a technicality.
The prosecution,
without either Holder,
who had killed himself,
or Lakeler who had fled, had no case.
(CROWD YELLING)
Nancy Holder left California
for Cape Cod, as we now know.
She was never retried.
This is Charles Slater,
Adamsport, Massachusetts.
(THUNDER RUMBLING)
Good afternoon, kiddos.
Did everyone have a good snooze?
I've saved you some
cookies and a glass...
Uh-oh. Who didn't
drink their milk?
(ALARM BEEPING)
Hmm?
Michael, do you know
what time it is?
It's 12:30.
You know how
to tell time? Hmm?
Uh-uh.
Who are you?
I'm a friend of your mommy.
We're just playing a little
game on Mommy for her birthday.
Did you know that
today's Mommy's birthday?
Hey, Mikey, look at this.
You ever see one of these?
(LAUGHS) Neat, huh?
Want an apple?
Real juicy.
Juicy-Lucy.
(EXCLAIMING)
I don't want any apple. Huh?
I don't want any milk.
I want to go home.
All right.
Not just yet, though.
Mikey, you ever see
a real telescope?
Come on.
I'll show you my telescope.
Come on.
Mommy, Mommy...
Who is he, Michael?
It's all right, Missy.
We won't be gone long.
Will we? Come on.
Mister...
Huh?
Mister, please take us home.
All right.
But first, right now,
let's go look at the telescope, huh?
Come on.
Missy'll be all right.
Won't you, honey?
Well, come on,
leave your sister alone.
MISSY: Michael. Don't go.
She'll be all right.
Missy'll be okay.
Won't you, darling?
We'll be right back,
honey. Come on.
Let's you and me go
check out the telescope.
What do you say?
Mommy! Mommy!
Michael!
Mommy! Mommy!
Michael!
Come on.
It's all right.
Come on!
There you go!
There you go, little man.
Wait a minute.
That's it, look through there.
Let me get the lens cap off.
What do you see, pal?
No, don't be a dork.
Squeeze the other eye shut.
That's it.
Now what do you see?
I see my house.
That's right.
You see, Michael,
I've watched you
for a long time.
I know where you play
and when you play.
What are you looking
at now? Huh?
MICHAEL: All the cars.
Cars? That's right.
Something's wrong.
Well, Michael,
you know what it means to be dead?
Huh?
It means...
It means to go to God.
That's very good.
You know,
you're a very astute fellow.
Well, you see, the reason all
those cars and policemen are there,
is because this morning your
mother went to visit God.
If... If Mommy went to
God, I wanna go, too.
Well, maybe you will.
Well, will she come back?
Maybe.
Your daddy told me
to mind you for a while.
He told me to ask
you to be a good boy,
and for you to help
me look after Missy.
That's what he said.
That's what he said.
Mommy went to God.
So, if she doesn't come
back, I wanna go, too.
You will.
Tonight. I promise.
I got the tickets.
(HELICOPTER HOVERING)
Those kids would not
have gone near the water.
Something's wrong.
No. I know that.
But it's not Nancy.
Ed, I've known about her past
since before we got married.
OFFICER: Come on, get off there now.
Move it.
(JOURNALISTS CLAMORING) No pictures taken.
Get going, get going.
(SIGHS)
I wanna take your wife down to the
station, for her own protection.
Is that all?
We've got a lynch
mentality here.
Yeah.
God, you take her down to the
station, it's gonna destroy her.
I'm not gonna book her.
(THUD)
OFFICER: Beat it! Beat it!
Ed, come on now, I don't know
what's going on around
here any more than you do.
But I can't stand around and
let Nancy take the blame for it.
Now, you got to treat her like any
other woman whose kids are missing.
Clay, your wife is not
like any other woman.
Mrs. Eldridge,
I'm curious about something.
You told me earlier,
the last time you saw the children
they were playing in the yard.
Why did you go to the lake?
For God sakes, Ed,
she had two children drown.
Please stay out
of this, Dorothy.
I understand you were
upset this morning.
Yes.
It's my birthday today.
It's the day my first...
My first two children died.
You had a nervous breakdown
in prison, didn't you?
After my husband committed suicide.
Yes, I did.
Come on, honey, let's go.
She did say that
they were in the lake.
Yeah.
She was the last one
to see them.
Mrs. Eldridge, I think it's
going to be better for everybody
if we continue this
down at the station.
I didn't hurt the children.
(CROWD CLAMORING)
(THUNDER RUMBLING)
WOMAN: You monster!
(REPORTERS CLAMORING)
Watch... Watch 'em!
REPORTER 1: Hey,
do you have a confession from her yet?
REPORTER 2: Is it true
Nancy Holder
was found on the lake this morning?
No! No!
(REPORTERS CLAMORING)
Mrs. Eldridge is
not under arrest.
No, sir, you can't go in there.
Please, I'm a friend
of the Eldridges. No.
Go. Sorry.
You were in the house with
Nancy Holder just now, right?
Is it true she
admitted she finally...
No. No, mind your
own business.
REPORTER: Have you
located the children yet?
DOROTHY: Go on.
Do you have any leads?
DOROTHY: Go, move away.
REPORTER: Do you have any
idea where the children are?
(TELEVISION CHATTERING)
(RINGING)
Mary had a little lamb
The lamb was white as snow
Everywhere that Mary went
The lamb was sure to go
Come on, sing along, Missy.
You can sing.
Sing, Mikey.
It's the wrong tune.
Mary had a...
What? Don't tell me
it's the wrong tune.
Sing, young man.
Mary had a little lamb...
(EXCLAIMS IN FRUSTRATION)
Mary had a little...
It's the wrong tune.
I... I say when
it's the wrong tune.
You don't tell me
it's the wrong tune.
Well, it is.
Well, maybe you better start
singing a different tune, pal.
You call me when you're
ready to sing, all right?
And no more jelly beans!
Sergeant. Sergeant,
I wanna see Chief Coffin.
Who are you?
Oh, Ed, Ed?
Please, Ed? May I?
Wait a minute, sir.
ED: Billy!
Let him through.
Thank you, thank you.
Who is that guy anyway?
Do you know him?
Yeah, they're friends of the Eldridges.
He's a retired shrink.
Ed...
Is she all right?
Ed, where's Nancy?
Dorothy, Jonathan, this is Mr. Quill
from the Governor's office.
Yes, she's fine. She's in the
conference room. We're questioning her.
Ed, no matter what
it looks like now,
Nancy had nothing
to do with this.
How do you know?
Well, Clay asked me
to see Nancy professionally when
she was pregnant with Missy.
No question in my mind, Ed.
She did not harm
those first two children.
You knew she was Nancy Holder?
Yes, I did, Ed.
Ed, those children in California
disappeared nine years ago today.
Nancy's birthday.
The exact same age that Missy
and Michael are right now.
Coincidence?
I don't think so.
You've been watching
too much television, Doc.
Ed, please...
Whoever killed those children in
California is still out there.
He's the kidnapper.
I think Nancy can
tell us who did it.
Why didn't she tell us?
Because it's...
It's locked in her mind somewhere.
Please, let me work with her.
CLAY: Jon.
Clay, Clay!
Nancy.
(INDISTINCT)
NANCY: Jonathan.
We're here to
help you this time, Nancy.
It's not gonna be
like it was before.
Thank you.
Thank you.
(LAUGHING)
I fell in love long ago
With a sweet little girl
And that little girl
was you (SQUEAKING)
What do you say, Henrietta?
Wanna swim today?
(LAUGHING)
(THUNDER RUMBLING)
I wish we could get out of here.
I'm hungry.
I hate this place, Missy.
What does it say?
I can't read this writing.
(DOOR OPENS)
(DOOR CLOSES)
ED: How's it goin', Doc?
Do a lot better, Ed,
if Nancy were at home
instead of a room
with bars on the window.
My friend, I've got the press,
the mayor,
the governor on my ass.
David.
You want me to tell them
I let Nancy Holder go
because she didn't like
the bars on the windows?
Just don't tell 'em.
Your kids, too, Clay.
What's that supposed to mean?
I wouldn't want the
same thing happen to you
as happened
to her first husband.
But, Ed, look at
how you're thinking.
She told her boyfriend
and I quote,
"The children are going
to be smothered."
What do you think
she meant by that?
I was going to ask her
the same thing, Clay.
Then ask me.
Don't talk about me
like I'm... I'm not here.
I told Rob Legler that,
because I felt my marriage
was smothering me.
It was smothering my children.
I was unhappy with my marriage.
It wasn't good
and it wasn't right.
I stayed in it for the children.
Why didn't you say this
at the trial?
Because I just wanted it over.
Like I want it over
if anything's happened
to Michael or Missy.
I just keep going because...
Maybe they're...
They're still alive.
And maybe there's
something that we can do.
I've got to get out of here!
Nancy, please! Come on.
Hey, hey, come on.
Hey, Nancy, stop.
Leave her alone.
Just leave her alone.
CHIEF: All right.
Calm down, everyone.
(SOBBING)
It's okay, honey.
We just gotta be strong.
Ed?
We just picked up the
guy at the radio station.
I'll be right there.
Come on, kids.
Come on, come on, come on.
MISSY: I don't wanna!
Let me go!
PARRISH: Get back there, buster.
Missy and I wanna be alone.
MICHAEL: I don't wanna.
PARRISH: Stop screaming. Get back there.
Get back!
MISSY: Don't go, Mike. No.
PARRISH: Come here, honey.
Stay with me. Let her go.
Let's go.
No! I don't wanna go!
Come on.
I don't wanna go!
Take time for your bath.
Let her go, you bastard!
MISSY: I don't wanna!
What time did you get
to work this morning?
8:00.
And this wasn't there then?
No.
You examine the mailbox
any time before
the mailman arrived?
No.
So this could've been
there from 10:00, 9:00,
before the kidnapping.
Why the hell would anybody put it
in the box before the kidnapping?
Because someone wants
Nancy back on death row,
where he had her nine years ago.
Doc here wants to be a
detective when he grows up.
Listen, is this gonna take long?
I'm being interviewed by
Channel 8 in 15 minutes.
What do you say?
You can go now.
What about my envelope?
We'll hold on to it,
if you don't mind.
It was sent to me.
It's my envelope.
Right.
Hmm, interesting.
Ed, look at that.
Is that you, Nancy?
Yes.
When was it taken?
It looks like just after
I got out of prison,
when I was moving east.
I'm at a bus station.
Ah...
Stockton, Merced,
Fresno, Bakersfield.
Then it is Sacramento,
where I got on the bus.
Miss Eldridge,
do you have any idea
who could've been
taking pictures of you?
No.
CLAY: Sure like to know how that
picture got in the envelope.
I'm gonna take these
down to the lab.
I'll go with you.
I'm sorry to make you come
out on a day like this.
Oh, it's my job.
Well, there it is.
Oh...
The Lookout.
Shall we make a run for it?
(WIND HOWLING)
Oh, it's...
There's a tenant on the
third floor apartment,
but he's only got
a two month rental,
so there's no problem
with the lease.
I wonder how this place
looks like at night.
I'm sure I got the right keys.
Oh, I hate to ring.
Mr. Parrish asked me
not to disturb him.
Said he's writing a book about
plant life on the Cape...
Or something like that.
Oh!
He must've unlocked it.
Well, you can see for yourself,
this place is absolutely unique.
I mean, I think that this
place is really for you.
I'm not just saying it.
Can I see the upper floors?
I would like to see the view.
Oh, well, I hate to
disturb Mr. Parrish.
(SIGHING)
If I'm going to buy this place, Mrs.
Prentiss...
Well, all right.
The golf pro used
to stay here summers.
Turned the entire floor into a
self-contained apartment, with a kitchenette.
(DOOR SLAMS)
Oh, my!
Good heavens, you startled me.
(STUTTERING)
This is Mr. Kragopopoulos?
Kragopoulos.
Kragopoulos, from New York,
I told you about.
Oh, yes, yes.
Mr. Parrish.
Pleased to meet you.
I'm Courtney Parrish.
Would you mind terribly if
I showed him the apartment?
Well, I must confess,
at the moment,
it is a bit of an inconvenience.
I wonder if you might
possibly come back tomorrow?
I have driven six hours
to see this place
and I have to be back tonight.
Oh, I see.
Well...
It was part of our
understanding, Mr. Parrish.
Yes. Yes, of course.
Well, show the man around.
What a dreadful day to have to
observe this wonderful house.
You heard the terrible
business about the Eldridges?
Yes. Those poor children.
Have they been found yet?
A policeman came around
and talked to me about it.
Oh, it's so disturbing.
That's quite a shock about that Nancy
Holder, too, isn't it?
You mean Nancy Eldridge.
Yes. Well, whatever
she calls herself now.
Oh.
PARRISH:
That's the bedroom.
Wasn't this piano downstairs?
Yes. Yes, it was.
It gets a better tone up here.
Well, how in the world
did you get it up here?
Hmm. By the laws
of simple physics.
Oh, do you play,
Mr. Parrish?
Well, I try to.
Not very well, I'm afraid.
Do I hear water running?
Oh, sugar! I forgot.
Well...
(GROANING)
Oh, my!
We interrupted your bath.
I'm so sorry.
It's all right.
I don't exactly follow a rigid
schedule, you know.
(RUBBER DUCK SQUEAKING)
Shall we go on?
Oh.
PARRISH:
Watch your step.
This is the bedroom.
May I see the closet?
What? That closet?
You know I've been intending to ask Ms.
Prentiss about this closet.
I wanted to grow my night blooming
aspidistra in there this season.
But I thought you or that golf
fellow must've changed the lock.
I don't have a key for it.
Well, there are keys
for all these closets.
I wouldn't twist that knob,
if I were you.
It might come off and
we'll never get it open.
The closet in the other
bedroom is exactly the same,
if you'd like to see it.
Oh, no, no, no.
That's all right.
Does this door open?
No. Absolutely not.
Don't go out there.
It's not safe.
Please...
The wood's all rotted.
Nice telescope.
I enjoy studying the stars.
Is there any place else
where the wood is rotted?
The widow's walk,
up here on the roof.
It's all rotted
through up there.
If you'd like to have a look
and maybe get yourself killed,
please, be my guest.
Oh, no, no, no, no.
It's all right.
...buying it.
(CLASSICAL MUSIC PLAYING)
Strange man.
If Mr. Parrish is right
about the rot,
I will definitely bring it up
with the owner when we talk price.
You know, I'm really sorry
that you have to go back.
You really should see
this place on a nice day.
Well, to be honest,
Mrs. Prentiss,
I'm not too sure this
place is really for me.
Oh, well.
Go ahead. Go ahead.
Oh, those damn leaves.
I'll be right back.
Let me have the umbrella.
There. That's better.
Oh!
Something wrong,
Mrs. Prentiss?
Oh, my God.
It's Missy's mitten.
She was wearing it yesterday
when I took she and
Michael shopping.
She must've dropped it
in the front seat
and I kicked it out just now.
Oh, my God.
Missy was always
losing her mittens.
(MUFFLED)
How are my babies?
Are you all right?
Told you I'd be back.
Why you...
(GASPS)
Poor little thing.
Oh, oh.
Wake up, honey.
MICHAEL: Shut up!
I'll deal with you
in a minute, young man.
Ah, Missy,
hold still.
Let me get your
sister ready now.
She's taking a bit of
a snooze, isn't she?
I said shut up!
A little on the nod.
Just a minute.
Oh, come on now.
It's bedtime, doll.
I'll be back for you, young man.
Poor little darling!
Oh, my sweetie.
Just a minute, Mikey,
we'll be back.
Why you...
You be a good boy, Michael.
Shut up!
I'll be right back.
That's not the kind of
language to talk to me, is it?
Nancy,
we've got some news.
We've got two separate reports
from people who have seen
Rob Legler on the Cape.
A gas station attendant
in Yarmouth,
and another from
a druggist in Hyannis.
Where is he?
I don't know. But we've got every
cop in the county looking for him.
Miles will drive you folks home
whenever you're ready.
Oh.
Anything wrong,
Mrs. Eldridge?
Oh.
That face. No...
In the reeds.
That face.
Oh.
CLAY: What face, honey?
No.
That was...
That was him.
I saw Rob.
I saw Rob at the lake.
(PHONE RINGING)
I'll call you later, Clay.
Why is he here?
NEWSCASTER: We interrupt
this early evening movie
for a Channel 8 news brief.
(RINGING)
Police are searching
for Robin Legler,
key suspect in the disappearance
of the Eldridge children.
Legler was spotted in the
Adamsport area this morning,
driving a red Volkswagen bug
with Canadian license plates.
Anyone seeing this man should
contact local police immediately.
Now back to our movie.
(ENGINE STARTING)
Well...
What shall we play now, pal?
I won't wanna play games.
Missy's sick.
I told you,
your sister is not sick.
She's only taking a snooze.
No, she's not!
I wanna go home.
All right.
You both will be leaving here very
soon, I assure you.
I don't wanna go later.
I wanna go now!
Put this coat on,
you're getting cold.
You don't wanna
get a cold, do you?
Come on, put this coat on.
Now, what do you say,
you and Uncle Courtney
play a little game?
You wanna play Snoop?
Snoop's a good game.
Or we can play Keep Up.
Or we could play Space Wizard.
How about a game of
Chinese checkers? Huh?
Bet I can beat you, Mikey.
Huh?
You shouldn't have
done that, mister.
That can get you
into big trouble.
I think you need
a glass of milk.
(THUNDER RUMBLING)
(LOUD CRACKLING)
Check!
Matches.
(LAUGHING)
Something happened.
Oh, something blew.
All right, don't you
play with matches.
Take care of your sister.
Uncle Courtney'll
be back in a minute.
We'll be right back, Missy.
Have a good sleep, darling.
(EXCLAIMING)
Oh!
Been a very bad boy, Mikey.
Bad boy.
Here.
What do you say, mister?
(EXCLAIMING)
Michael!
Michael!
Michael!
Missy drank her milk.
She's asleep.
You didn't drink yours.
Now you must be punished.
Shit.
(ENGINE RATTLING)
God damn son of a bitch!
God damn it!
(GREEK MUSIC
PLAYING ON STEREO)
(SPEAKING IN GREEK)
(REPLYING IN GREEK)
Mineral water, from Sparta.
Strong like bull.
Phew!
So, where you from, my friend?
Kalamata.
No. I mean here.
Oh. New York.
You have friends here?
I come to look at a property I
wanted for a nice restaurant.
Which property?
The Lookout.
You know it?
It's a cemetery.
That crazy guy still up there?
Do you know him?
He comes in here
the last couple of weeks.
He never leaves
the girl a tip. Right?
He's a cheapskate, a stiff.
He says he comes here to fish.
I ask him how the
blues are running.
He looks at me like
I'm talking Chinese.
He fishes and he
doesn't know blues?
Doesn't know blues!
Want some more coffee?
Hey. Where you going?
What's wrong?
I have fantastic baklava for dessert.
(WHISTLES) Kragopoulos.
Where you going? Wait.
You can come out now, Michael.
I'm not angry anymore.
Sorry I got angry, pal.
Come on out.
I know where you are.
I'll take you home
to your mommy.
(WHIMPER)
Mama.
Welcome home.
Power out?
Fifteen minutes ago.
Phone's been on and off all day.
Stay in touch on the radio?
Don't worry, Clay.
It's no problem.
All right.
Get a fire started.
Nancy.
Come on out, Mikey.
Uncle Courtney hurt his knee.
Missy needs your help.
(GROANS)
Uncle Courtney needs your help.
Might as well come out, Mikey.
You know I'll find you.
(WHIMPERS)
JONATHAN: Nancy?
What did you and Rob talk about?
Marriage.
Children.
What about your children, Nancy?
See, Rob told me
I could leave Carl.
I just... I didn't
think I could.
Why did you marry Carl?
Did you love him?
In the beginning, yes.
Did he make you happy?
NANCY: I didn't make him happy.
JONATHAN: Is that why you
wanted to leave him?
He... He said
that I...
I didn't know
what marriage is.
Now what did he mean by that?
What do you think Carl
meant by that, Nancy?
He wanted me to...
Dress a certain way,
do certain things...
Dress how?
JONATHAN:
Nancy? Nancy?
Nancy, how did Carl
want you to dress?
(SOBBING)
Like a child!
Like a little girl.
And what was he doing
that was so awful...
Please.
That you couldn't talk
about it in court?
I mean to defend yourself,
to save your life?
I just don't wanna
talk about it.
I'm afraid we have to
talk about it, Nancy.
Let's get to the
point, Jonathan.
Someone out there
has got our kids.
Now why are you taking
her through this for?
Please, Nancy, tell me.
Jonathan?
Tell me, Nancy,
why did you leave Carl?
Get to the point, Jonathan.
Answer me, Nancy.
Why did you leave Carl?
Leave me alone.
You left him because he was
molesting the children, wasn't he?
No.
No!
First, he dressed you
like a little girl,
and he treated you
like a little girl.
And then he did things to you
that you didn't like.
Then you had your children.
And then he had his own little
boy and his own little girl,
and he didn't need
you any longer.
Because you'd given
him the real thing.
That's right, isn't it, Nancy?
Isn't that right?
Lisa... So...
My little girl...
As a little girl...
(SIGHING)
(SIRENS WAILING)
What you doin'?
Anybody with him?
OFFICER: No.
Take him down to the station
and send his prints
out on the wire.
Yes, sir.
Jonathan, coffee?
No. No, thank you.
Oh, the hell with it.
Let me have a cup.
Thank you.
(KNOCKING ON DOOR)
Yeah?
Listen, I'm sorry to interrupt,
but I just thought you'd wanna know.
They traced Legler to a
motel up near Brewster.
He stole a car.
They just found it
out of gas near Barnstable.
We caught him.
Good.
Was he alone?
Yeah.
(HUMMING)
I fell in love long ago
With a sweet little girl
That little girl was you
Make sure the back
doors are locked
before you go back out to the
car, all right?
And put another log on the fire.
MILES: Right.
(SIGHING)
Yeah. Honey,
I'll call you
just as soon as
I talk to Legler.
All right. Good.
Be careful.
Keys.
Oh, here I have them.
Be careful.
ON TV: I lost my children
and now I've lost my wife!
NEWSCASTER: Though he
never doubted her guilt,
Professor Carl Holder appeared
crushed by the jury's verdict.
He looks real different.
Who does?
That guy on TV.
What are you talking about?
That guy on TV.
That's the guy who gave me two bucks
to deliver a package this morning.
NEWSCASTER: ...Holder's
boat was found a week later,
abandoned off Point Ridge.
The suicide note said
"Nancy, I still love you."
Hey, stup, the guy's dead!
Do you wanna go
home to your mother?
She didn't go to God.
She's all better.
She wants to see you.
Come on out and we
can play a new game.
We don't have to play
Chinese checkers.
Whatever you want.
Boo!
(THUD)
I know where you are, Mikey.
(WHIMPERING)
I'm running out of patience.
(RATTLING DOORKNOB)
I know where you are, Mikey.
I know where you are.
This time you won't get away.
I know.
Uncle Courtney knows.
Gotcha!
(EXCLAIMING)
You get off me!
Get off of me!
(EXCLAIMING)
MICHAEL: Hey, hey, you!
Who? Ooh.
Get off me!
KRAGOPOULOS: Run! Kid, run!
Get off me!
Leave us alone!
You shouldn't be here!
What you do with that boy, huh?
What you do with that boy?
Ah! Get back!
Come on!
I finish you!
Hey!
(GRUNTING)
Put down that shovel, you!
(GROANING)
Take that!
(PANTING)
(GROANING) Foreigners.
It's all right, Michael.
Now we can be alone.
Teach you to meddle.
(PHONE RINGS)
I'll get it.
Hello?
Mommy?
Hello?
Mommy!
Michael!
Mommy, you're alive.
Michael... Michael,
where are you?
I don't know.
Mommy, help us.
Missy's sick.
I will. I will, Michael.
I'll come right away.
Mommy, there's a man.
A man?
He tied me up.
Oh, God.
Put me in a closet.
Are you all right?
Where are you?
PARRISH: Michael?
Mommy!
What does it look like?
Is it far away?
PARRISH: You can
come out now, Michael.
Michael? Michael?
PARRISH: Don't you
wanna go home?
(DOOR SHUTS OVER PHONE)
Michael?
Can't take you home...
Michael?
Michael! Michael!
(LINE DISCONNECTS)
Oh, Jesus!
Operator, operator!
Mrs. Eldridge,
let me take it.
It was Michael!
Hello? Hello?
He said Missy was sick!
Oh, God! Operator?
I'll radio it in.
Michael.
It's dead.
(THUDDING)
(LOCKING DOOR)
I know you're down
here, Michael.
I know.
Where are you?
Come on out, Michael.
I won't hurt you.
I wouldn't hurt you
for the world.
(RUSTLING)
(LAUGHING)
(YELLS)
(LAUGHING)
Where are you?
(BANGING)
As my daddy used to say,
"What are you gonna
do now, buddy boy?"
(LAUGHING MANIACALLY)
(SQUEAKING) Please,
don't hurt me.
(ALL CHATTERING)
(REPORTERS CLAMORING)
REPORTER: Doctor! Doctor!
Excuse me, Doctor,
can I ask you just one question.
I'm sorry to bother you...
I want a lawyer.
I got a right to a lawyer.
You'll get a lawyer.
Sit down, kid.
Where are my kids?
I got no idea.
Son of a bitch,
where are my kids?
Clay!
Clay!
Now, I told you
I don't want this.
Please.
Listen, look, I've had it.
You guys are in
for one sweet lawsuit.
This is false arrest,
harassment and I wanna see a lawyer.
I told you you'd get a lawyer.
Yeah.
For God sakes, man,
where are my kids?
Why don't you go ask your wife?
You son of a bitch!
Clay, Clay, come on!
Be calm.
All right, all right.
Clay! Look, damn it!
Oh, God.
What'd she do to you?
What'd she do to make
you hate her like this?
Hate her? Man,
I don't hate your wife.
What do you think
I'm doing here?
I got this letter
from her a month ago.
"I want your help.
I need your help.
"Come to Adamsport.
Call me at this number when you get here.
"Come November 5th.
I'm leaving my husband."
Signed, Nan.
Nancy never typed
a letter in her life.
Well, I sure didn't type it.
I didn't write it!
Oh...
Look, I got this a month ago.
I got another one
a month before that.
Well, look at the postmark,
for Christ's sakes.
It says Adamsport on it.
Somebody could've
mailed it for you.
Oh, look at this guy.
I'm not setting
your wife up, man.
Somebody set me up.
I swear to you.
Why do you think I've been
in a motel room all day,
dialing a phone number
that nobody ever answers?
Because the God damn
letter says so, that's why!
You guys wouldn't...
You were the guy at the lake.
You ran into the water.
But who was that
other guy in the car?
What car?
This white station wagon
pulled away from the house.
CHIEF: What time was this?
I don't know.
It was, uh, 10:00.
Yeah. It pulled out and I
thought it was Nan's husband.
There were two sets
of tire tracks.
Sit down, kid.
You're not...
Let me have one of those.
NANCY: It's the waiting.
What if I kept Michael
and Missy in this morning?
(SIGHING)
Oh, no.
I was knitting
this pair smaller.
It just finally dawned on me
I wasn't saving any money
making them bigger
because Missy always lost them,
before she grew into them.
Do you know, when I put on
her mittens this morning,
you know those sweet
little red mittens
with those kittens
on them, I thought,
"Please, Missy..."
(SHUDDERING)
What?
I know where they are.
Oh, my God,
I know where the children are.
What do you mean?
Oh, my God!
Where did you get this?
At the Lookout, in the driveway.
When I found it, I thought Missy
must've dropped it in my car
when I took her
shopping yesterday.
Why didn't...
You should have told me!
Because I thought
it might upset you.
Oh, my God!
Nancy, its Parrish!
Who's Parrish?
He's renting the
apartment at the Lookout.
Oh, my God, the piano up there,
and the little bath
and the toy duck.
And that telescope pointing
right at your house.
Nancy?
I'm going to find them.
Wait here for Miles
and tell him where I am.
How do I get in?
There's a back door.
Please, be careful.
I'll try to get help.
(ALARM BEEPING)
Seven bells, kids.
(ELECTRICITY CRACKLING)
(GRUNTING)
Hurry.
What the hell is that?
Power line's down.
That's Nancy's car.
Come on.
CHIEF: We have the car.
Nancy!
OFFICER: Let's spread out.
Nancy!
Nancy!
She's not in the car.
She must've gone to the house.
OFFICER: Let's get on the horn
and call the power company. Hey!
OFFICER 2: I got it.
Turn 'em around!
We'll go in by Post Road.
Ed, what in the hell
are you doing?
We're going around back.
Well, I'm not.
Now come on, Clay!
Go, go!
You guys go in by boat.
The rest of you come with
me, we'll surround the place.
Hold still.
Put this on your head.
Oh, man.
(EXCLAIMING)
Hold still!
Mom!
Michael!
Oh, my God! Michael!
Michael! Michael!
Missy! Oh, God!
My babies!
Carl!
(MICHAEL SQUEALING)
You!
You!
(SHOUTING) Get outside,
I'll drown you!
MICHAEL: Mommy! Mommy!
Get off me!
(GRUNTING)
Baby, are you...
MICHAEL: Stop it!
Michael!
Get off my mommy!
(SHOUTING)
You killed them!
You made me do this!
You killed my babies!
(MUMBLING)
I didn't wanna do it!
You bastard!
You bastard!
(KIDS SCREAMING)
NANCY: No!
Mommy.
Help. Help.
(SCREAMING) Mommy!
Go, go, go.
Get help. Go
(SCREAMING) Mommy!
Mommy! Mommy!
Missy! Missy!
Leave us alone!
Leave us alone!
Missy! Missy!
Daddy!
Michael! Michael!
Oh, God, I've got you.
Daddy. Daddy.
Michael, are you all right?
Yes, yes.
(SCREAMING)
Carl!
Carl!
Stop! She's mine!
She's mine now! Stop!
Carl, give her to me.
Please, give me my daughter.
Give me back Peter and Lisa.
Give her to me.
Carl.
You thought you could take
my children away from me.
I couldn't let you do that ever!
(SOBBING)
Poor Peter and Lisa.
You don't have
to kill anybody, Carl.
You killed them.
You gave me no choice.
You gave me no choice.
Please, please.
Stop. Don't
come any closer.
Please, Carl.
Stop! Stay away!
I'm warning you.
No! Help!
Stop! Police!
Get down!
Make them stay away.
Back. Don't meddle with me.
Don't meddle with me.
I'll throw her!
I'll throw her!
(MISSY COUGHING)
Hush, Missy.
Give her to me.
Give me my baby.
It was you, Nancy.
It was you!
Get back now.
Stay back.
He's on the roof.
Henry, take this, go round back.
Come on, Doc.
You give me no choice.
Get back.
No more deceit, Nancy.
No more lies.
Only the truth of Mother Nature!
(MISSY WAILING)
(PANTING)
Let's show Mommy
how well you swim, honey.
NANCY: Oh, my God!
CLAY: Nan!
NANCY: Missy!
Give her to me!
(BOTH SHOUTING)
Nan!
(MISSY SCREAMING)
NANCY: Give her to me!
(ALL SCREAMING)
NANCY: Help us!
Help us please.
Nancy!
Oh!
I got her! I got her!
Come on. I got her!
I got her. I got her.
You!
(CRYING) Mommy!
(BRANCH SNAPPING)
(SCREAMING)
Mommy!
(SOBBING)
CLAY: It's over. It's over.
Mommy!
Michael.
Mommy!
My baby.
Watch your step, it's slippery.
There they are!
There they are.
Right there.
OFFICER: All right,
let's get 'em down.
It's okay, Son.
It's all right.
Stay right close to me.
Come on, honey.
Watch the ice.
All right.
All right.
Stay right close to me.
Stay close.
NANCY: You're okay.
You're okay.
Go on.
CLAY: Watch it.
Go a little bit more.
That's a boy.
NANCY: You're okay!